A Note for Students and Educators Affected by Public Health Emergencies and Natural Disasters

The Bates Office of Admission wishes all those affected by recent natural disasters and extenuating circumstances — including labor strikes, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, and wildfires — a quick and safe recovery as you return to school and work. We know that many students’ and educators’ personal and academic lives have been disrupted by these and other events, and we want to work with you to ease the pressures to the college search and application process.

We have compiled the answers to several frequently asked questions below. If you have any further questions, please contact either your regional representative or the Office of Admission at 207.786.6000 or admission@bates.edu.

If your family’s financial situation has been affected by a natural disaster and you have questions about the financial aid process or deadlines, please contact Student Financial Services at 207-786-6096 or sfs@bates.edu to discuss your situation.

All the best,
Bates Admission Staff

Prospective Students: Connecting with Bates

May I visit campus?

Yes, please do! We are happy to announce that we are safely welcoming visitors to campus. Visitors are encouraged to register for an official campus visit. To register for a campus visit, click here.

In addition, we have a variety of ways for you to connect with us virtually for live events, and also encourage you to check out our Explore Bates pages for other offerings. We remain available via admission@bates.edu and 207.786.6000 between 9am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.

How can I learn about Bates virtually?

Take our virtual tour from anywhere! Join our mailing list to receive periodic updates and information regarding Bates. Connect with your regional admission representative, a current student, or the larger Bates community in The Conversation!

Prospective Students: Applying to Bates

In the past few years, dates for standardized tests were cancelled. Will Bates be flexible about standardized testing when I apply?

Application files are reviewed over several months, so the sooner you can get your scores to us, the better. That being said, we will make sure to update your file with your scores even if they come in after the application deadline. In addition to official test scores, we accept self-reported scores. Further details on score submission can be found on our website.

As a reminder, Bates has been test optional since 1984, and maintains that testing is not reflective of each applicant’s future success at Bates. We firmly believe in our policy and respect each student’s choice regarding the submission of test scores.

My high school switched to Pass/Fail grades. Will this affect how Bates evaluates my application?

Our holistic review process allows to consider the “whole” applicant within the context of an applicant’s high school, and includes several metrics of academic performance. The Office of Admission regularly evaluates academic transcripts that utilize a multitude of grading scales, including the Pass/Fail model. While many schools enacted different or new grading policies as they transitioned to virtual learning, our holistic review process will not penalize applicants for these changes.

I’m worried about financing my college education.

Bates is committed to meeting 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need through a combination of grant aid, student loans, and student employment. Bates awards more than$40 million in grant aid each year, and about half of enrolled students receive financial aid. In fact, the average need-based grant for the Class of 2026 was $54,504, and the average federal student loan debt for the Class of 2022 was $13,531— less than half the national average. Please visit our Financial Aid page for more information.